Safety Board Links Fords To 306 Deaths

The Center for Auto Safety, citing new figures showing 306 deaths in ''park-to-reverse'' accidents, is pressing for a recall of Ford cars with automatic transmissions built before mid-1980.

The center said Thursday the deaths involving automatic Ford models built between 1966 and mid-1980 were more than seven times the 41 fatalities reported as a result of Firestone 500 radial tires, the top killer involving a defective vehicle design that later was recalled.

The figures were based on accident reports submitted by Ford within the last month to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

''The new park-to-reverse statistics compel NHTSA to reopen its case and recall these Fords,'' said center director Clarence Ditlow.

''We've essentially said we don't agree with this remedy,'' said Ford spokesman Robert Waite in Washington.

He said Ford believes that in ''99 percent of the cases'' accidents have occurred because motorists have not securely placed their car in the park position.

Typically, the accidents occur when a driver leaves a car running to shut a garage door, for example, without making certain the car is in park ''although they may think they have'' and the vehicle rolls backward, Waite said.

He said Ford disputes allegations that cars simply ''pop into reverse.''

''No evidence of a defect has ever been found by the government or by us. We are convinced there is no defect in Ford automatic transmissions, another Ford spokesman said.''

Since the Transportation Department agreed in December 1980 to allow Ford to mail warning stickers to owners of the automatic cars, instead of recalling the vehicles, 117 people have died in park-to-reverse accidents, Ditlow said.